Battling over the remains

The recent movie Ray has helped to keep the late R&B star Ray Charles a hot ticket. Hot enough that litigation is under way over who has the rights to the “Ray Charles” name for goods that include calendars, dolls, collectible wine, and (naturally) sunglasses.

Richard Ricks, who claims he had an exclusive seven-year deal for marketing the name, is seeking at least $1 million from the Charles estate.  Ricks claims that the family made “secret deals” with others in violation of the exclusivity clause.  Lawyers for the estate say that the “so-called contract was improperly obtained,” and that it is “not enforceable.”